simple past tense and past participle of retrench

(transitive) To dig or redig a trench where one already exists.

(transitive) To cut down or reduce. / (transitive, specifically) To terminate the employment of a worker to reduce the size of a workforce; to make redundant.

plural of retrenchment

(military, dated) A defensive work constructed within a fortification to make it more defensible by allowing defenders to retreat into and fight from it even after the enemy has taken the outer work.

(specifically) An act of reducing expenses; economizing. / (specifically) An act of terminating the employment of a worker or making an employee redundant, often to reduce expenses; a layoff.

One who retrenches.

plural of retrencher

present participle of retrench

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of retrench